Waubonsee Rings In The New (faces)

November 16, 1991|By Larry Mayer, Special to the Tribune.

Forgive Waubonsee Community College basketball coach Dave Heiss if he takes notes during pregame player introductions.

That`s one way he`ll become familiar with a team that features more new faces than a hospital nursery. Of the 18 players on the roster, only one was a member of last season`s NJCAA Division II Region IV championship squad.

``I got spoiled last year when I had eight kids back,`` said Heiss, who has guided Waubonsee to back-to-back Skyway Conference titles. ``This is definitely a new experience for me. Right now I`m spending a lot more time on fundamentals and teaching my system than on team things.``

Heiss calls Perez, a transfer from Aurora University, ``the best all-around player. He can play defense, score, rebound and pass.`` Guards Morris Gray (6-2) and Melvin Meeks (5-11), both from West Aurora, round out the starting lineup.

``We`ve got a lot of team quickness and athletic ability,`` said Heiss, whose team opened its season by beating Rock Valley Community College 85-71 in double overtime Tuesday night. ``We`re not very tall, but we`ve got a lot of guys who play above the rim, and we`ve got some good shooters. We have the same strengths we`ve had in the past. Nothing`s changed except the names.``

Last season, David Bacon (22 points a game) and Kevin Nichols (15) led the Chiefs (29-8 overall, 12-0 in the Skyway) to seventh place in the NJCAA Division II national tournament. Heiss believes he has replenished Waubonsee`s talent pool while keeping his system intact. The big question mark is how soon the newcomers will grasp that system.

``Our success depends on how quickly they understand it and how quickly they learn to play as a team,`` Heiss said. ``You`d like to (recruit) players who`ll jell together, but at this level you`ve got to find the best athletes available and transfer them into your team concept.

``Our philosophy here is to play tough man-to-man defense. We`ll take the break when it`s there, but we`re more concerned with a ball-control offense.`` Waubonsee`s gym isn`t the only one filled with new faces this winter. Rick Kilby left Morton College to become head coach at Oakton Community College, and brought three players with him. The presence of newcomers Vonzell McGrew, a 6-8 center-forward, and guards Reggie Bishop (6-2) and John Freeman (5-9) make Oakton a legitimate contender. Forwards Andy Klemen (6-6) and Dave Crittle (6-5) also will start for the Raiders.

``This is the best team Oakton has ever had,`` says OCC Athletic Director Tom Jorndt.

McGrew`s stats in the classroom are just as important to Oakton`s success as those on the basketball court. Last season at Morton, McGrew was declared academically ineligible at the semester break. He had led the Panthers to a 12-3 start by averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots a game. Without him, Morton finished 15-15.

McGrew seems to be back on track. He did well in summer courses and anchors a team that has tremendous potential.

``We have great team speed, we have size and we have very good perimeter shooting,`` Kilby said. ``We really don`t have a weakness. The only way this train could get derailed is off-the-court things, like grade problems or injuries. My experience tells me to be cautiously optimistic. But I feel this team has more talent than the group that won 25 games for me at Morton (in 1989-90).``

(6-3) form a core that also includes Omar London (6-5) and Burtrell Selph

(6-2). All but Carter return from last season`s 21-11 squad.

``Our strengths should be pressure defense and our speed,`` said Truman coach Tom Gulan. ``And we`ve got better harmony and chemistry on this team than we did last year. We have some vocal floor leaders I`ve never had in the past.``